Quis dabit oculis

General information

Lament on the death of Queen Anne of Brittany (1514). Based on text from her funeral sermon. Ludwig Senfl reused the text minor changes for a lament on the death of Emperor Maximilian I.

Settings by composers

• Jean Mouton ATTB
• Ludwig Senfl SATB
• Costanzo Festa SATB

Text and translations

Latin text Quis dabit oculis nostris fontem lacrymarum et plorabimus die ac nocte coram Domino? Germania/Britannia, quid ploras? Musica, cur siles?/Musica sileat. Austria, cur induta veste reproba/Francia, cur deducta lugubri veste moerore consumeris? Heu, nobis Domine, defecit Maximilianus/Anna! Gaudium cordis nostri conversus est in luctum; cecidit corona capitis nostri. Ergo ululate pueri, plorate sacerdotes, lugite cantores, plangite nobiles et dicite: Maximilianus/Anna requiescat in pace.

English translation Who will give our eyes a fountain of tears to weep day and night before the Lord? Germany/Britain, why do you weep? Music, why do you keep silent?/Music shall keep silent. Austria, why are you going in rags/France, why did you tear your vest in mourning and are spent with grief? Alas, Lord, Maximilian/Anne has passed away! The joy of our hearts was turned into mourning; The crown has fallen from our head. Therefore, boys howl, priests weep, the singing men lament, the nobles weep and say:  May Maximilian/Anne rest in peace.